![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
Nigerians have criticised human rights activist-turned-politician Aisha Yesufu over her claims that President Bola Tinubu is begging for her support.
Yesufu, in a now-viral clip shared on her X page on Wednesday, alleged that Tinubu is working assiduously, begging for her support.
”Ask Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State, why he is so desperate for Aisha Yesufu’s support,” she said.
”I am inconsequential in Nigeria. I am nobody. He should mind his lane; let me mind my lane,” she added.
She alleged that the camp of the president established a fake website using her name to drum support for the ”illegitimate president,” as she described him.
”As far as I am concerned, he is not my president; that is an illegitimate president who rigged his way into office,” Yesufu alleged.
Her footage, which has gone viral, has attracted reactions from Nigerians, with many criticising her for ”over estimating” her importance in the country.
While many mentioned that the Tinubu-led administration is busy with important issues on how to fix the country, they mentioned that Yesufu’s support is of ”zero importance” to the president.
Our correspondent highlights below the reactions of Nigerians to Yesufu’s claims.
Excel Ayodele, ”You think you earn a badge for disrespecting the president? This shows how you view the fool you call your husband. You’ll soon fade away, Aisha. Write it down; you’ll fade.”
Alli Moshood, ”Attention-seeking. Your support didn’t get him the presidency; why should it matter now or for a second term?”
King Salem, ”Who is Aisha Yesufu? Is it the one suffering from bipolar disorder, or the one who always uses PBAT for X farming and clickbait? PBAT is asking for your support. How many votes did you deliver to Peter Obi in the last election?”
Princeton, ”The fact that you haven’t been arrested for treason is evidence that we actually have a very forgiving democracy. If you are taken in now, can you prove that the president himself sanctioned the creation of that website? Yet here you are.”
M. Abdulrahman, ”You’re too incompetent and very inconsequential to be appointed for any position at the local government level, let alone the federal. This, your elevator pitch, is mentally unfortunate. You really need help.”
Abubakar Ibrahim, ”You are not important, not even to the Obidients circle that you’re a part of. Zero political value. Just noise all the time.”
Mathias, ”Although I’m not a fan of Tinubu, I think the only thing you are looking for here is engagement. How can Tinubu be in desperate need of your support when you can’t even win your ward successfully in an election. Madam, I totally disagree with you here. Thank you.”
Giwabol, ”What exactly does a sitting national president who won an election without you need your support for? You that cannot even win a councillor seat of your ward.”
Demoshood Abiola, ”He didn’t need you in 1999, 2003, 2007, or 2022; he broke your mentor’s mouth. This woman thinks of herself so highly. An ant thinks itself a cyborg.”
Adefemiloye, ”You have finally gone mad. They will have to really explain to President @officialABAT before he understands who you are.”
Remi Oyebamiji, ”Aisha, you don’t have any electoral value to be sought. Your candidate is yet to explain how he obtained WASC in 1986 but graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy in 1984.”
Nurudeen Abu, ”You could be arrested and prosecuted for this, as long as you live in Nigeria and hold a Nigerian passport; he’s your president. Every issue surrounding the conduct of 2024 elections was treated in lawful Nigerian court; anything outside that is null and void.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
